[Statement of the Professional Committee on Psychiatry of BVÖGD on the Amendment of the PsychKGs of the Federal States].

It is strongly recommended to establish mental health laws in every state. By these laws, outpatient services have to be dedicated to avoiding involuntary hospitalisations. Community mental health systems need to be enabled to supply low threshold, immediate care services, if necessary at home (home treatment resp. assertive community treatment). To this end, the role of sociopsychiatric services in service coordination has to be strengthened and comprehensive community mental health organisations have to be established in every city or county. At state level, Councils on Mental Health need to be implemented by state government, mental health reporting, especially on rates of involuntary hospitalisations (by federal as well as state law) has to be established and visiting committees need to extend their scope to all institutions and services that play a role in prevention or aftercare of involuntary hospitalisation.